“Greta Gerwig makes a winning directorial debut with a funny and very human comedy that happens to have Oscar-caliber performances from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf.”—Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, Lady Bird, follows Saoirse Ronan’s title character as she attempts to navigate the final year of her high school experience in Sacramento in 2002, with the film detailing Lady Bird’s squabbles with her parents (Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts) and her relationships with two very different boys (Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet).

Writer/director Gerwig delivers a familiar yet charming narrative that contains virtually all of the touchstones one associates with the coming-of-age genre, and yet, for the most part, Lady Bird comes off as a pervasively affable dramedy that benefits from Gerwig’s authentic approach and a smattering of superb performances. What is distinctive here is the pacing and emotional energy of the characters. The various plot strands come and go in rapid-fire but often hilarious fashion.

Gerwig extracts inspired performances from her cast. Ronan’s excellent turn as the movie’s conflicted protagonist is matched by an exceedingly strong supporting players – with, in particular, Metcalf and Letts delivering seriously impressive work as Lady Bird’s world-weary, exasperated mother and somewhat more sympathetic father as well as Beanie Feldstein as Lady Bird’s sometimes under-appreciated girlfriend.

Gerwig’s screenplay is rife with familiar elements – ie Lady Bird tussles with her parents, has boy problems, drops her unpopular friend for a popular one, etc, etc – but director orchestrates all of these in sure-handed fashion, resulting in a credible arc for her titular character. Geriwg’s Oscar-nominated Lady Bird comes off as a solid debut from a promising new filmmaker.